Minnesota @ Cleveland preview
Progressive Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 6, 2010 ) Minnesota 6, Cleveland 7
Carl Pavano was pitching to save his career when the 2009 season began.
The Minnesota Twins veteran right-hander is now the best pitcher on a team that could very well win its division.
Pavano has been one of the hottest pitchers in baseball over the last two months. A loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday was his first since June 3 and broke a career-best eight-game winning streak.
The Twins wouldn't be pushing the Chicago White Sox for first place in the AL Central if not for Pavano, who will be making his 23rd start of the campaign.
While Nick Blackburn has pitched his way to the bullpen and Francisco Liriano and Kevin Slowey have been inconsistent, Pavano has been steady. He has pitched at least six innings on 19 occasions this season - and at least seven innings in 14 starts. Pavano's lengthy outings have helped the Twins post a 14-8 mark.
None of this seemed possible when last season started. After four completely forgettable seasons with the New York Yankees, Pavano signed with the Cleveland Indians for the 2009 season.
Pavano ended up faring well with the Indians, going 9-8 in 21 starts before being traded to the Twins in July. He went 5-4 in 12 starts and helped Minnesota win the division in 2009.
Those results helped the right-hander earn another shot from the Twins, who re-signed him during the winter.
That decision has paid off for both sides. Pavano went 10 starts between defeats before losing to the Rays, and even that outing wasn't all that bad. He allowed four runs and nine hits in six innings in a 4-2 loss.
Pavano won't be the only pitcher on the mound who has reclaimed his career this season.
Fausto Carmona, who has struggled for two years and even pitched his way back from rookie ball last season, has quietly been the Indians' best pitcher this season.
After losing four straight outings from late May to early June, Carmona has won seven of his last 10 starts. On Monday, he held the Boston Red Sox to two runs in seven innings.
Carmona hasn't had much luck against the Twins this season and in his career. He lost on April 30 when he allowed six runs and eight hits in six innings. Carmona is 3-7 with a 5.45 ERA in his career against the Twins.
Minnesota blew a chance to gain ground on Chicago on Friday night with a 6-5 loss to the Indians. The Twins trailed the entire game, but rallied to tie it in the ninth on Alexi Casilla's two-run single.
Manager Ron Gardenhire was ejected earlier in the inning after a replay review denied Jim Thome a game-tying home run.